Here's the electablity issue that Hillary supporters overlook ...

[Alhena]

after Obama's latest string of wins, it is abundantly clear that the only way Hillary is going to win the nomination (and she may well do it) is by pulling political levers such as the superdelegates or some kind of convention vote regarding Florida and Michigan.

That will leave Obama's supporters very disillusioned, just like Hillary's will be if the opposite occurs. The difference is, however, that Obama's supporters include a very large number of independents and a smaller number of moderate "Obama Republicans" who are the reason why he leads McCain in national polls and Hillary does not.

If I had to invent a perfect storm for sending the independent vote- and thus the election- to the Republican party this fall it would involve the following:

1. Have the Republicans nominate John McCain, who has by far the greatest appeal to independents.
2. Not only give the Democratic nomination to Hillary, but give it to her in such a way that the independent voters feel that the Democratic party has cheated and disenfranchised them.

It would be particularly helpful to the Republicans if we had our convention especially late this year so the wounds would be fresh at election time- yep, we've got that too.

I fully expect that these considerations will weigh heavily in the minds of the uncommitted superdelegates, and that's why I think Obama has the edge even in the "smoke-filled room" scenario.

[groovedaddy]

1. Is a unity ticket the only answer? Obama/Clinton

Give Clinton authority over several cabinets. It's a long reach, I admit it BUT how else do you avoid the acrimony?

[Alhena]

3. I can't think of any lesser office that Hillary would want - Supreme Court maybe

[HughMoran]

2. I think we've all thought of this, no matter whom we support

If you're not thinking about the consequences of an ugly nomination fight at the convention, then thy head is planted where the sun don't shine.

I'm not going to try to spin it one way or the other, but it weighs heavily on my mind every day.

[NashVegas]

4. If Choosing a Democratic Nominee Comes Down to This Argument

We will lose in November - and we will deserve to lose.

[cloudythescribbler]

5. VERY good point -- Obama supporters need to seek that he AT LEAST lead in ...

the overall raw vote and in the overall number of pledged delegates coming out of the primary election season. While some may suggest that nomination of Obama OR Hillary somehow equally involve shortcomings, this false equivalence is a canard. In the absence of superdelegates, then Obama IN THAT SITUATION would be the nominee. If more competitive REAL votes are to be taken in MI and == though less likely -- in Florida (a primary with both names included and freedom to campaign), then, in a situation where HRC is behind in delegates AND raw vote, even if this might increase her viability, I would support the effort.

The notion of having the superdelegates overrule the popular vote is obscene.

[Benhurst]

8. The majority of Democrats who have participated in the primary process

have voted against BOTH Hillary and Obama. Neither has been able to attract majority support. No matter which minority candidate is selected, the supporters of the other minority candidate are going to feel cheated.

It's too bad there wasn't a provision for a runoff of the top two, failing anyone's getting a majority.

As it stands, there really isn't any satisfactory solution.

Maybe we could get the producers of NBC's THE BIGGEST LOSER to help us out.

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. You're not factoring into the equation the number of votes Obama

will lose in the general. Democratic primaries are not representative of the population as a whole, hence the adjustments in the 70's. From what I've seen this election cycle, nothing's improved.

[IDemo]

7. "some kind of convention vote regarding Florida and Michigan"....

That's an interesting concept, one I don't think I have heard before, here or in the media. If it came down to asking seated delegates to vote up or down on seating Florida and Michigan delegates, the image of the smoke-filled room picking our nominee would be gone. Unfortunately, the pressure to seat them and "honor the votes" from Florida and Michigan would more than likely outweigh the inclination to do what is fairest for all candidates, and Hillary would gain a significant chunk of delegates.

Not saying this would or even could occur given the rules, but it's one scenario to keep in mind if no re-caucus or other move happens between now and then.

[Alhena]

11. Being objective, seating Florida delegates would be much fairer ...

that seating Michigan delegates. Frankly, I think Hillary supporters should have been embarassed to have her campaign suggest that they will even try to seat delegates from an election where she was the only name on the ballos. Besides- Obama very well could have won Michigan, or at least made it very close.

I tend to think Florida would have gone to Hillary regardless with its large elderly, southern white and Hispanic populations. So I won't consider it all that outrageous if its delegates are seated.

[IDemo]

12. Tending to think an election may go one way or another won't make it fair

We have already been surprised several times this season by elections which did not go the way everybody expected.

I think, since neither state feels it can pay for another primary or caucus, that the national party should pay for them. Regardless of who made the rules or who didn't follow them, the voters are ultimately the ones being disenfranchised. Dr. Dean should know there is no easy way to make this problem go away otherwise, unless Barack or Hillary have an overwhelming plurality of delegates by August, and that is not looking likely.

[paulk]

9. actualy, you're way off base

Hillary has plenty of opportunity to win the nomination. Just under half the states still have not voted and by far most of those states are primaries, not caucuses. This favors Hillary.

Save your scare tactics for something real.

[Bake]

10. I think it's worse than that, actually.

I think we're doing so much self-inflicted damage that we're going to hand the White House to McCain.

Really.

Bake

[Tarc]

13. Independents and disillusioned Republicans have no love for McCain

and are just as fed up with the "100 years in Iraq" mentality as we are. If some are going to be a bunch of Bitter Bettys just because their preferred candidate did not win the nomination, then they're going to get the president that they deserve; John McCain.

It isn't Hillary's fault that some people are contemplating being so mind-numbingly self-destructive and selfish as to pull another Nader. Nor is it a reason to vote for Obama in the primary season.